Ceiling fan mounting structure

ABSTRACT

A ceiling fan mounting structure is constructed to include a holder base affixed to a fan motor, the holder base having equiangularly spaced retaining blocks and holding an electric plug electrically connected to the fan motor, a barrel coupled to the holder base, the barrel having longitudinal sliding grooves for guiding the retaining blocks into the inside of the barrel and retaining grooves respectively extended sideways from the longitudinal sliding grooves for engaging the retaining blocks upon a rotary motion of the barrel relative to the holder base, an electric socket supported on a spring inside the barrel for receiving the electric plug, a hollow suspension rod connected to the barrel, and a lock member for locking the barrel to the holder base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a ceiling fan and moreparticularly, to a ceiling fan mounting structure, which facilitates theconnection of power supply to the fan motor and, supports the fan motorstably.

2. Description of the Related Art

FIG. 7 shows a ceiling fan mounting structure according to the priorart. According to this design, the fan motor mounting structurecomprises a holder base 6 affixed to a fan motor 62, a hollow suspensionrod 7 adapted to suspend the holder base 6 from the ceiling, aconnecting tube 71 threaded onto the threaded bottom end of the hollowsuspension rod 7, and tie screws 72 mounted in the connecting tube 71and threaded into respective screw holes 61 of the holder base 6 toaffix the connecting tube 71 to the holder base 6. The installationprocedure of this design of ceiling fan mounting structure iscomplicated. During installation, the user must attach the connectingtube 71 to the holder base 6, and then drive the tie screws 72 into therespective screw holes 61 one after another. If the tie screws 72 arenot properly fastened tight, the ceiling fan will vibrate during runningof the fan motor 62. Severe vibration of the ceiling fan during runningof the fan motor 62 may cause the fan motor 62 to fall to the ground.Further, during installation, the power cord 63 of the fan motor 62 mustbe inserted through the connecting tube 71 and the hollow suspensiontube 7 and then connected to power supply. Because the power cord 63 hasa certain length, it must be turned back and arranged in a receivedstatus after insertion through the hollow suspension tube 7 beforedelivery of the ceiling fan mounting structure. If the received powercord 63 is received inside the hollow suspension rod 7, the receivedpower cord 63 may be forced to rub against the inside wall of the hollowsuspension rod 7, thereby causing damage to the insulator of the powercord 63. A damage of the insulator of the power cord 63 may result in ashort circuit. This complicated design of ceiling fan mounting structureis out of favor of consumers who like DIY (Do-It-Yourself).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances inview. It is the main object of the present invention to provide aceiling fan mounting structure, which eliminates the aforesaiddrawbacks.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the ceiling fanmounting structure comprises a holder base affixed to a fan motor, abarrel coupled to the holder base, a hollow suspension rod connected tothe barrel, and a lock member adapted to lock the barrel to said holderbase. The holder base comprises a plurality of retaining blocks and anelectric plug. The electric plug comprises a plurality of contact pinselectrically connected to the fan motor through a power cord andprotruding over one side of the holder base opposite to the fan motor.The barrel holds an electric socket on the inside, comprising a frontside connectable to the holder base, a rear side connectable to thehollow suspension rod, a plurality of longitudinal sliding groovesextended to the front side and adapted to guide the retaining blocks ofthe holder base into the inside of the barrel, and a plurality ofretaining grooves respectively extended sideways from the longitudinalsliding grooves and adapted to accommodate the retaining blocks of theholder base upon a rotary motion of the barrel relative to the holderbase after insertion of the retaining blocks into the longitudinalsliding grooves. The electric socket is axially movably mounted insidethe barrel, comprising a stop flange extended around the peripherythereof, a plurality of contact holes adapted to receive the contactpins of the electric plug, and a power cord extended from the contactholes and inserted through the hollow suspension rod for connection topower supply. The lock member is a tubular member axially movablymounted on the barrel and connectable to the holder base to hold downthe barrel in an engagement position where the retaining grooves arekept in engagement with the retaining blocks.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the retainingblocks of the holder base are conical blocks; the retaining grooves ofthe barrel are conical grooves fitting the retaining blocks. Afterinstallation, the gravity weight of the fan motor imparts a downwardpressure to the conical retaining blocks relative to the conicalretaining grooves, enhancing the engagement between the conicalretaining blocks and the retaining grooves. Therefore, the ceiling fandoes not vibrate during operation of the fan motor.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, the lockmember prohibits displacement of the barrel relative to the holder base,thereby holding down the engagement between the conical retaining blocksand the retaining grooves.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a ceiling fan mounting structure accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the present invention before connection ofthe electric socket to the electric plug.

FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing showing the relative position between theretaining blocks of the holder base and the longitudinal sliding groovesand retaining grooves of the barrel according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the present invention after connection ofthe electric socket to the electric plug.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the present invention showing the holderbase affixed to the fan motor.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of an alternate form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a ceiling fan mounting structure accordingto the prior art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a ceiling fan mounting structure is showncomprising a holder base 1 affixed to the fan motor, referenced by 5, abarrel 2 coupled to the holder base 1, a hollow suspension rod 3connected to the barrel 2, and a lock member 4 adapted to lock thebarrel 2 to the holder base 1.

The holder base 1 comprises a bottom plate 11 fixedly fastened to thetop of the fan motor 5 with screws, a stepped hollow upright shaft 12perpendicularly upwardly extended from the top side of the bottom plate11 at the center, a plurality, for example, three conical retainingblocks 13 equiangularly spaced around the periphery of the relativelysmaller diameter of the upper half of the stepped hollow upright shaft12 and in flush with the topmost edge of the stepped hollow uprightshaft 12, an outer thread 15 extended around the periphery of therelatively greater diameter of the lower half of the stepped hollowupright shaft 12, and an electric plug 14 mounted inside the steppedhollow upright shaft 12 and electrically connected to the power cord 52of the motor 5. The electric plug 14 comprises three contract pins 141and two locating pins 142 upwardly projecting from the top side. Thelocating pins 142 have different diameters.

The barrel 2 comprises an inner thread 21 extended around the insidewall thereof at the rear side for the connection of the suspension rod3, a plurality of, for example, three retaining grooves 22 and threelongitudinal sliding grooves 23 alternatively equiangularly spacedaround the inside wall at the front for the connection of the holderbase 1, and a stop flange 27 extended around the periphery of the frontside. The retaining grooves 22 fit the retaining blocks 13 of the holderbase 1. The retaining blocks 13 of the holder base 1 are respectivelyinserted through the longitudinal sliding grooves 23 and then forcedinto engagement with the retaining grooves 22 upon a rotary motion ofthe holder base 1 relative to the barrel 2 (see FIG. 3).

Further, an electric socket 24 is axially movably mounted inside thebarrel 2, having three contact holes 242 and two locating holes 243 inone side, namely, the front connection side 241 thereof for receivingthe three contract pins 141 and two locating pins 142 of the electricplug 14 respectively, and a stop flange 245 extended around theperiphery of the rear side thereof. A power cord 244 is extended fromthe contact pins 131 and inserted through the hollow suspension rod 3for connection to power supply. A stop plate 26 is mounted inside thebarrel 2 and adapted to stop the electric socket 24 inside the barrel 2,having a center through hole 261. The diameter of the center throughhole 261 is slightly greater than the outer diameter of the electricsocket 24 but smaller than the diameter of the stop flange 245. Afterinsertion of the electric socket 24 through the center through hole 261of the stop plate 26, the stop flange 245 is stopped against the stopplate 26. A spring 25 is provided to impart a downward pressure to theelectric socket 24 against the stop plate 26, thereby holding theelectric socket 24 in such a position that the front connection side 241protrudes over the front side of the barrel 2 for the connection of theelectric plug 14.

The hollow suspension rod 32 has a threaded neck 31 disposed at one endfor threading into the inner thread 21 of the barrel 2. Alternatively, aconnector 32 may be threaded onto the threaded neck 31 of the hollowsuspension rod 32 for fastening the hollow suspension rod 32 to thebarrel 2. The connector 32 has a threaded neck 321 for threading intothe inner thread 21 of the barrel 2.

The lock member 4 according to this embodiment is a chuck sleeved ontothe barrel 2 and adapted to lock the barrel 2 to the holder base 1,having an inner thread 41 for threading onto the outer thread 15 of theholder base 1 and an inside stop flange 42 for stopping against the stopflange 27 of the barrel 2.

The installation of the present invention is outlined hereinafter withreference to FIGS. 2-5 again. The power cord 244 of the electric socket24 is inserted through the hollow suspension rod 3 and connected topower supply, and then the lock member 4 is lifted from the barrel 2,and then the electric socket 24 is connected to the electric plug 14 toforce the contact pins 141 and locating pins 142 into the contact holes242 and locating holes 243 respectively. At the same time, the steppedhollow upright shaft 12 is inserted into the barrel 2 to force theretaining blocks 13 into the respective longitudinal sliding grooves 23.Thereafter, the barrel 2 is rotated with the hollow suspension rod 3relative to the holder base 1 to force the retaining blocks 13 intoengagement with the respective retaining grooves 22. At final, the lockmember 4 is threaded onto the outer thread 15 of the holder base 1 tolock the barrel 2 to the holder base 1, as shown in FIG. 5. Because thepower cord 52 of the motor 5 is connected to the electric plug 14 andthe power cord 244 of the electric socket 24 is connected to powersupply, connecting the electric socket 24 to the electric plug 14achieves electric connection of the motor 5 to power supply. Because thetwo locating pins 142 of the electric plug 14 have different diameters,and the two locating holes 243 of the electric socket 24 fit thelocating pins 142 respectively, the electric socket 24 can be quicklyconnected to the electric plug 14 in the correct direction.

Further, by means of the retaining blocks 13 at the holder base 1 andthe longitudinal sliding grooves 23 and retaining grooves 22, the barrel2 can be easily and quickly connected to the holder base 1 simplythrough a rotary motion without the use of screws. Because the retainingblocks 13 are conical blocks and the retaining grooves 22 are conicalgrooves fitting the retaining blocks 13, the downward pressure of thegravity weight of the motor 5 enhances the tightness of the engagementbetween the retaining blocks 13 and the retaining grooves 22, preventingvibration of the hollow suspension rod 3 during operation of the motor5.

Further, after connection of the lock member 4 to the holder base 1, thefront side of the lock member 4 is stopped at the bottom plate 11 of theholder base 1, and the inside stop flange 42 of the lock member 4 isstopped against the stop flange 27 of the barrel 2 to prohibitdisplacement of the barrel 2 relative to the holder base 1, andtherefore the retaining blocks 13 of the holder base 1 are held inpositive engagement with the retaining grooves 22 of the barrel 2.

FIG. 6 shows an alternate form of the present invention. According tothis alternate form, the barrel 2 has an outer thread 28; the lockmember 4 is threaded onto the outer thread 28 of the barrel 2. Duringinstallation, the lock member 4 is rotated forwards and threaded ontothe holder base 1 and stopped against the bottom plate 11 of the holderbase 1 to hold down the barrel 2 on the holder base 1, keeping theretaining blocks 13 in positive engagement with the retaining grooves 22of the barrel 2.

A prototype of ceiling fan mounting structure has been constructed withthe features of FIGS. 1-6. The ceiling fan mounting structure functionssmoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail for purposes of illustration, various modifications andenhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except asby the appended claims.

1. A ceiling fan mounting structure comprising a holder base affixed toa fan motor, a barrel coupled to said holder base, a hollow suspensionrod connected to said barrel, and a lock member adapted to lock saidbarrel to said holder base, wherein said holder base comprises aplurality of retaining blocks and an electric plug, said electric plugcomprising a plurality of contact pins electrically connected to saidfan motor through a power cord and protruding over one side of saidholder base opposite to said fan motor; said barrel holds an electricsocket on the inside, comprising a front side connectable to said holderbase, a rear side connectable to said hollow suspension rod, a pluralityof longitudinal sliding grooves extended to said front side and adaptedto guide the retaining blocks of said holder base into the inside ofsaid barrel, and a plurality of retaining grooves respectively extendedsideways from said longitudinal sliding grooves and adapted toaccommodate the retaining blocks of said holder base upon a rotarymotion of said barrel relative to said holder base after insertion ofsaid retaining blocks into said longitudinal sliding grooves, saidelectric socket being axially movably mounted inside said barrel, saidelectric socket comprising a stop flange extended around the peripherythereof, a plurality of contact holes adapted to receive the contactpins of said electric plug, and a power cord extended from said contactholes and inserted through said hollow suspension rod for connection topower supply; said lock member is a tubular member axially movablymounted on said barrel and connectable to said holder base to hold downsaid barrel in an engagement position where said retaining grooves arekept in engagement with said retaining blocks.
 2. The ceiling fanmounting structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein said holder basecomprises a bottom plate affixed to a top side of said fan motor, ahollow shaft upwardly perpendicularly extended from said bottom plate;said retaining blocks are equiangularly situated at the periphery ofsaid hollow shaft remote from said bottom plate.
 3. The ceiling fanmounting structure as claimed in claim 2, wherein said retaining blocksare conical blocks; said retaining grooves are conical grooves fittingsaid retaining blocks.
 4. The ceiling fan mounting structure as claimedin claim 2, wherein said electric plug is mounted inside said hollowshaft, comprising two locating pins, said locating pins having differentdiameters; said electric socket comprises two locating holes adapted toreceive said locating pins upon insertion of said contact pins into saidcontact holes.
 5. The ceiling fan mounting structure as claimed in claim2, wherein said hollow shaft of said holder base comprises an outerthread; said barrel comprises a stop flange extended around theperiphery of the front side thereof; said barrel comprises an innerthread for threading onto the outer thread of said hollow shaft of saidholder base, and an inside stop flange for stopping against the stopflange of said barrel upon stoppage of said lock member at the bottomplate of said holder base.
 6. The ceiling fan mounting structure asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said barrel comprises an outer thread; saidlock member comprises an inner thread threaded onto the outer thread ofsaid barrel.
 7. The ceiling fan mounting structure as claimed in claim1, further comprising a stop plate mounted inside said barrel, said stopplate having a center through hole for the passing of said electricsocket, the diameter of said center through hole of said stop platebeing smaller than the diameter of the stop flange of said electricsocket; and spring member mounted inside said hollow suspension rod andstopped against said electric socket inside said barrel to force thestop flange of said electric socket against said stop plate.
 8. Theceiling fan mounting structure as claimed in claim 1, further comprisinga connector threaded onto one end of said hollow suspension rod andadapted to connect said hollow suspension rod to said barrel, saidconnector comprising an outer thread threaded into an inner thread insaid barrel.